Rhode Island Reports 2 New Human Cases Of EEE

Rhode Island officials have confirmed two more human cases of Eastern equine encephalitis this season.

The state health and environmental management departments said Tuesday two people have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering, bringing the number of human cases of the virus to three. A West Warwick resident died last week.

Officials say a child younger than 10 years old from Coventry and an adult over 50 from Charlestown contracted the mosquito-borne disease, likely in late August. Communities at critical risk were aerially sprayed with pesticide last week.

The disease was also confirmed in a deer from Exeter this week.

In neighboring Massachusetts, officials confirmed the state's eighth human case of the virus Friday. One case was fatal.